Middle East: Prayer needed
28 Nov 2011Bahrain: Government protesters were tear gassed when clashes erupted during a procession marking the death of a 16-year-old killed by a police vehicle. The teen's death heightened tensions ahead of the release of a much-awaited report on the sectarian strife in the kingdom. Egypt: 38 protesters have died this week - Monday the cabinet resigned amid clashes between police and protesters demanding political change; Wednesday tens of thousands of protesters rejected efforts to speed up a presidential election, demanding Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi step down immediately in favour of an interim civilian council. Israel/Syria/Libya:use of landmines in 2011 has been the highest for seven years. Hezbollah and its Shiite ally, the Amal Movement led by Speaker Nabih Berri, vowed Monday to stand by Syria and Iran against U.S. and Israeli threats to attack the two countries.
Pray: for God in His mercy to enable peace, justice and hope to flow through communities in the face of fear and injustice. (Ps.35:22)
More: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/default.aspx#axzz1eWLzw72u
Middle East: Peace talks begin in Washington
07 Sep 2010
The Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Binyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas, began direct talks in Washington Thursday as Hamas pledged to scupper attempts to bring about peace after its second attack on Israelis in two days. Barack Obama described it as a ‘moment of opportunity that may not soon come again’.Netanyahu said the killing of four Israelis settlers by Hamas on Tuesday reinforced Israel's determination to ensure its security is at the forefront of the negotiations. Abbas said, ‘We want peace, we want normal life. We want to live as partners and neighbours.’ Obama said ‘terrorists who want to undermine the push for peace would not be allowed to weaken negotiations and harboured no illusions as to the challenges for a lasting settlement. Each side has legitimate and enduring interests. Years of mistrust will not disappear overnight. Politicians need to focus on the human face of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict not their own political agendas. Pray: God will release a spirit of optimism and trust to permeate all communications and for this to be a ‘partnership that produces peace’ (Ja.3:18) More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/02/middle-east-peace-talks-begin
Palestinian children are attacked by a handful of extremist settlers according to a report on settlement expansion investigating thirty-eight incidents resulting in three dead children and injuries to forty-two others. Continued settlement expansion has impacted the security of the Palestinian children. In eight cases soldiers colluded with the attack by either joining in, turning a blind eye or punishing the victims rather than the perpetrators. Twenty-one of the attacks were carried out in and around the southern city of Hebron and another seven near Nablus in the north - areas where settlers follow extremist ideologies. The study found ‘Israel's failure to enforce the law and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions had created an atmosphere in which settlers enjoy impunity and Palestinians live in fear.’ None of the settlers involved in the violent incidents have been prosecuted. Pray: for an end to all violence in this territory. (Ps.36:6)
Middle East: Democratisation
03 Feb 2011
Larbi Sadiki, senior lecturer in Middle East Politics at University of Exeter made the following comments: Regions in N Africa have been preparing to fight radical Islam and were caught unawares by the millions of educated youth who make up a large portion of the region's population. The policing, equipment, funding, expertise and anti-terror philosophy being fed to Algeria, Libya, Morocco, etc were geared towards fighting the radical Islamists. But from Tunisia and Algeria in the Maghreb to Jordan and Egypt in Arab east, the real terror consuming self-worth, sabotaging community and marriages is the terror of socio-economic marginalisation. When oppression becomes too heavy and politically costly for a government, bargains begin, including promises of jobs and policy, reversals of food price increase and even scapegoats in the form of ministerial dismissals. This is where Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt are today. But dissidents have not infiltrated governments or built political power bases to enable a ‘velvet revolution in the Arab world. Ben Ali is weak and has now fled to Saudi Arabia and the party and army that protected him is withdrawing loyalty as the crisis deepens. Pray: for the birth of a democratic system to grow out of the current chaos. (Is.14:32) More: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/01/201111413424337867.html
Middle East: Democracy concerns
26 Mar 2011
Many see toppling dictators as a victory for democracy. But within this movement are concerns for Christians. The democracy model unfolding in these lands, possibly a result of mob rule, is a democracy where Islamists are likely to control governments, exclude minority faiths and Christians live in fear. A December 2010 survey of Middle Eastern Muslims’ attitudes found 84.4% of Egyptians believe Christians converting from Islam should be publicly executed. Among Egyptians who say Islam is playing a large role in politics, 95% believe that this is a good thing. If this poll is even remotely accurate Egypt is clearly not a society ready for democracy. Look past the cover of the Muslim Brotherhood to see that contents of its book include the institution of worldwide Sharia law and establishment of a global Islamic caliphate that brings about the peace and domination of Islam forever. Pray: that revolutions will usher in a democracy that embraces minority faiths as it stands against tyranny. (Is.9:4-6) More: http://www.crosswalk.com/news/in-the-arab-spring-christians-fear-religious-freeze.html
Middle East: Church of the Nativity
22 Feb 2011Palestinian Christians have submitted an application to the UNESCO heritage committee asking that the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem be granted World Heritage status. Palestinian Authority Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khouloud Daibes, said ‘This step is part of our plan to end the Israeli occupation and build the institutions of the state of Palestine.’ The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem has enjoyed UNESCO World Heritage Status for 30 years but the Church of the Nativity remains off the list because Palestine is not a recognised state. Both churches are visited by millions of pilgrims each year with the Church of the Nativity expected to welcome two million visitors through its doors in 2011.
Pray: that the place of worship for Jesus birth will not be caught up in the struggle of people groups. (Mt.1:23)
Middle East: Christian persecution
16 May 2013The mass exodus of millions of Christians from one part of the Islamic world to another as the result of persecution by Muslims has reached epidemic proportions warns the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Christians may completely disappear from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Egypt. The report also said, ‘This matter of Muslim persecution of Christians is a humanitarian crisis.’ The Christian Post reported this week, ‘With all of the unrest being reported in countries like Egypt, Syria and Libya, the real untold story is the record number of Christians leaving the Muslim world because they are being targeted for kidnapping, plundering and beheadings. Regions and towns that were once populated with Christians are now emptied. The crisis for Christians goes beyond Middle East, Nigeria is now the country with the highest number of slaughtered Christians. Last year over 900 Christ-followers were victims of Boko Haram and other Islamic militants. See item 1 above and go to http://global.christianpost.com/news/islam-expert-warns-christians-may-completely-disappear-from-iraq-afghanistan-egypt-95556/
Pray: that persecution and unrest would motivate Muslims 'To Know Christ' (Ps.42:7)
Middle East: A work of reconciliation
19 Oct 2013‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.’ (Mat.5:23, 24) A young Israeli Messianic participant in a recent reconciliation initiative for young Israeli and Palestinian adults, writes in response to these verses, ‘The Lord showed us that it is very important for us to restore our relationship with our Palestinian brothers before we attempt to be reconciled with God.’ She adds, ‘We don’t always want to relate to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, feeling somehow disconnected from it, or powerless to do anything about it. Also we are in a more secure position (relative to the Palestinians) and so we tend to be apathetic and lack motivation to seek reconciliation with our Palestinian Brothers in Christ.’
Pray: for God to continue to bless and encourage those working for reconciliation and building relationships between Christians, Jews and others in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Ro.12:9-13 & Mat.7:4- 5)
More: http://www.musalaha.org/